A Gifted Grandson Ascends to the Top

In 1988, Executive Vice President Jim Kennedy, grandson of Governor Cox, was promoted to CEO and chairman of CEI.

Jim ushered in a new and progressive era of Cox history, placing an emphasis on diversity, deftly navigating a shifting technological landscape and burnishing the company’s reputation.

During his tenure, Cox Enterprises has diversified and grown, increasing in annual revenues from $1.8 billion to more than $20 billion.

In addition to being a towering figure in business, Jim is a noted philanthropist. He established the Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund, a $10 million endowment that supports children of Cox employees. He has given Emory University more than $35 million through personal and foundation contributions to address Alzheimer’s disease, patient-centered care models and cancer research. He has also provided more than $2 million to further autism research at the Marcus Autism Center. 

Jim is also a leader in conservation, having served on the boards of numerous organizations devoted to greenspace and environmental preservation. He launched Cox Conserves, a corporate sustainability program that seeks to send Zero Waste to Landfill by 2024 and become Carbon and Water Neutral by 2044. Since 2007, the company and its affiliated foundations have invested more than $100 million in sustainability and conservation efforts. 

Today, Jim serves as chairman of Cox Enterprises. Alex Taylor, the great-grandson of our company founder Governor James M. Cox, is president and CEO.